Volume 9/Issue 1

Equinor Submits Bid to NJ BPU to Develop Offshore Wind Farm

Equinor, a leading global offshore wind developer based out of Norway, officially submitted its bid to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities at the end of December. The application was in response to Board’s solicitation for 1100 megawatts (MW) of offshore, the largest single state solicitation to date. A Board decision is anticipated in spring of 2019.

Equinor’s New Jersey project, Boardwalk Wind, would be built in their federal lease area approximately 20 miles off the coast of Asbury Park. Equinor has a track record of success in the two largest offshore wind markets in the United Kingdom and Germany and their projects provide over 1 million households with renewable energy.

Governor Murphy has made the development of offshore wind and the positioning of New Jersey as a supply chain hub a priority of his administration.

Based upon average residential household power usage, the Board estimates that 1,100 MW of offshore wind will serve between 350,000 and 600,000 households annually.

RCSG proudly represents Equinor in their efforts to bring a new reliable source of clean energy and jobs to the State.

Potential Challenge for State Democratic Party Chair

Essex County Democratic Party Chairman Leroy Jones is considering a challenge to State Democratic Party Chairman John Currie, a close ally of Governor Murphy. The challenge is viewed by some as a proxy battle reflecting the current policy and legislative disagreements between the Governor and legislative leaders State Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.

Mr. Currie, who also serves as the Chairman of the Passaic County Democratic Committee, has led the New Jersey Democratic State Committee since 2013. The party has experienced several electoral successes during his tenure, including the re-election of U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, the election of Governor Murphy, an increase in both the State Senate and Assembly Democratic caucuses in the State Legislature, and the election of 11 Democratic representatives out of the 12-member Congressional Delegation in 2018.

However, the potential challenge by Chairman Jones is significant as he leads the largest Democratic county party in the state. Though he has not officially declared for State Chair (he has stated he would run if drafted by party leaders), Mr. Jones has already received substantial support for his potential bid. This includes the support of all seven Democratic county committee chairmen from South Jersey, Middlesex County Party Chair Kevin McCabe, State Senator/Union County Party Chairman Nick Scutari, Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman David Brown and individual elected and political leaders.

Mr. Currie’s current term expires in January 2020.

Senate Leaders Announce Committee Leadership Positions

With the election of State Senator Jeff Van Drew to Congress, Senate President Steve Sweeney announced new committee leadership assignments for 2019.

Senator Troy Singleton was named as the new chairman of the Community & Urban Affairs Committee, replacing Van Drew. Senator Vin Gopal is now the chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs panel.

The Senate President noted that with these appointments, the Senate will have more African American, Latino or South Asian committee chair persons than in the Senate's history.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean announced that Senator Steve Oroho will now serve as the Senate Republican Budget Officer, with Senator Anthony Bucco taking over as Conference Chair for the Republican Caucus.